EXT. CAPITAL CITY - MID-DAY
The machines and industry of the clean-up process are churning. Bricks and metal are pushed by large bulldozers attached to walking robots. Trains of trucks, all attached together to a pair of large engines on either end, lumber away with full carts as nearly everyone walks with a hardhat in hand.
CUT TO:
EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
The suburbs are scarred with smoke and ash as well with many of the houses in shambles. Yet, the community is together, working through wreckage with large dumpsters and several smaller trashcans filled to their brims.
Voso rides over the nearest hill with his spirit friends throwing out papers on either side. He nods and waves to many of them with genuine happiness on his face.
As someone tosses out a bucket of debris, a paper lands in it to the owner's surprise.
MAN
(mumbling)
Nice shot...
He pulls the paper out and unfolds the first page, showing a picture of Makami's starburst beneath the headline "AN AVA-STAR IS BORN". Also on the front page is news of the Earth Kingdom's President being arrested.
CUT TO:
INT. CAPITAL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
There is laughter around the large table of dignitaries and military leaders, headed by Emperor Ichiro. Adachi, while in the room, has a glazed expression as a glass bubbles in front of him.
ICHIRO (O.S.)
Cap off your excitement, Council! I'd like to propose a toast to the man who was on the hottest of hot seats...
Ichiro's slap on Adachi's shoulder brings more annoyance to his face.
ICHIRO
And yet, kept the coolest of cools. A real General Iroh, here - his name is Commandant Adachi.
A round of applause brings him to his feet and his head high in pride he doesn't seem convinced he has.
ADACHI
Thank you for the honor of serving, Emperor.
ICHIRO
Hah, you're not done yet, my friend! To surviving the Inferno Night!
Glasses shoot up around him as Adachi slumps back to his chair. Ichiro walks away.
ICHIRO (O.S.)
Someone put the pro-bending match on - time to win some ban!
Kouichi's champagne glass clinks against Adachi's on the table as he hovers. Adachi spares him a curt smile.
KOUICHI
Accolades where they are due, my friend.
ADACHI
Thank you.
KOUICHI
Would you join me for some air?
Kouichi walks away, already knowing the answer.
EXT. COUNCIL BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
Kouichi looks out over the progressing reconstruction projects all across the sunny morning. Adachi comes up, immediately leaning against the black metal railing.
KOUICHI
While he sings your praises through his teeth, you really did pull the planet out of the fire on this one. From beginning to end.
ADACHI
I helped start this crisis in the beginning, Kouichi. You know they were years away from this weapons technology. We sold them the pieces and toyed with our own doomsday.
KOUICHI
Our lord gambled and swindled away our reserve, so we had to mortgage the future to survive, which we did. Thanks to you.
ADACHI
Enough with the accolades.
KOUICHI
(laughing)
Whom else shall I shower them upon?
ADACHI
My...agent. And Avatar Makami.
KOUICHI
Ah yes, the Avatar. Something else, isn't she? Power like that would do a Fire Emperor well to have at hand.
ADACHI
She's too smart for Ichiro. He's not worthy of her company.
KOUICHI
I agree.
He leans onto the railing.
KOUICHI
I agree with the people I spoke to as well. The ones crying out for a leader as brave as the Avatar. Brave enough to get his hands dirty.
ADACHI
And who would...ah. So you want to run against him?
KOUICHI
I plan to. My campaign will start soon, assuming you approve, of course.
Adachi looks perplexed.
KOUICHI
These lovely people live jumping from hero to hero. Avatar Makami is the world's hero today, but you are the Fire Nation's hero. Whomever you approve of will have a throng of support.
ADACHI
I...I don't think I can do what is necessary to protect our country anymore. The new generation is cunning and determined, Kouichi. They have the will to see this world reshaped.
He looks to Kouichi with his mask cracked for once.
ADACHI
Being in this room, summoned like the hero - that scares me, makes me think that I'm just a villain that hasn't been found out yet. Doesn't it you?
KOUICHI
Of course it does.
He slaps Adachi's arm gently.
KOUICHI
That is why we must align with the new generation to have them look us over. Time audits all, my friend, hero and villain alike.
Adachi nods and stands straight.
ADACHI
You will have my support after I retire. If I may ask for one departing favor?
KOUICHI
Name it - anything.
ADACHI
My grandson needs a job, and I think he is the auditor our government needs right now.
Kouichi smiles as the two men shake hands.
KOUICHI
Now, hold your breath again. It's time to loosen our medals.
Adachi grunts heavily as they walk back inside.
CUT TO:
EXT. DOWNTOWN CAPITAL CITY - DAY
Makami sweats and grunts as she moves a broken wheelbarrow filled with rubble over loose rocks. She steers it over to a pile of bounders being cleared by a team of earth benders and machines. She dumps the load and turns around.
Voso's bike screeches to a stop in the background.
VOSO
(in old-timey voice)
Special delivery for a Miss Avatar.
MAKAMI
(chuckling)
Hey.
The rubble hits the ground and she wipes her hands. He comes over with a bottle of icy water as Forneus and the spirits all begin to play immediately.
MAKAMI
Oh, thank you. Ah, sweet water.
VOSO
You're earning it, I see. No bending really shows everyone here you're just one of the guys.
MAKAMI
(grumbling)
I didn't want to take down the buildings by mistake.
VOSO
When's the last time you went home?
MAKAMI
Heh, what home? I still don't have a place, and my childhood home is a dead campfire. I've been sleeping in the office here.
VOSO
Yeah, nope, won't allow for that. C'mon.
He walks to his bike and extends out a narrow metal seat.
MAKAMI
I can't, there's so much to do here.
VOSO
And you're no good to anyone if you drop into a wheelie-roller on the job. I think there are labor laws against that, actually.
MAKAMI
Yeah, you'd think there would be but-
VOSO
Ami, c'mon.
She's twisting the bottle in hand nervously while shifting her eyes back to the workers.
VOSO
Are you gonna break Forneus' heart by separating him from his friends?
She smiles and slaps her thigh.
MAKAMI
No, I guess I'm not that much of a monster. Fine, let's go.
VOSO
That's the spirit - heh, see what I did there?
MAKAMI
I get grumpy when I'm tired, not slap-happy.
VOSO
Copy that, getting to the point...
He quickly spins around and begins pedaling away as she clutches to his loose jacket.
EXT. CAPITAL CITY STREETS - CONTINUOUS
He's smiling into the breeze while she avoids it with her head against his back.
VOSO
You made the front page of the paper, by the way.
MAKAMI
Great. I'm in the peak of my nine days wonder period.
VOSO
Your what?
MAKAMI
My fifteen minutes, ya know? It won't last. Entropy will take care of that.
VOSO
You don't feel like you deserve the spotlight, do you?
MAKAMI
I couldn't do it alone, and it cost someone her entire world. I needed to be better faster. It's...she ceased to exist in my arms, Vee.
VOSO
Who was it?
MAKAMI
Avatar Kyoshi, one of the strongest Avatars to ever live.
VOSO
She must've thought you were strong to give you that chance, and you didn't disappoint her. Look, I know you, Ami. You were never happy when you had a remainder on a division problem, let alone now that you feel responsible for millions of lives. You need allies to help you shoulder the burden, or you're gonna crumble.
MAKAMI
That's the thing, I don't know if I can take losing someone close to me.
She grips his jacket tightly for a beat. As they near the crest of a hill, he stops the bike and sits there on the sidewalk, looking over his shoulder to her.
VOSO
Wanna see something cool?
She peeks up and over his shoulder, her eyes confused with growing happiness.
MAKAMI
What in the world?
Looking down, Shii, Toyo, Abe, Kota, the air benders, and more are standing in the middle of a fenced-in practice arena. The compound has pools of water, training dummies, and more equipment setup all around to give Makami what she needs to become a fully-realized Avatar.
VOSO
See how much people believe in you?
MAKAMI
This is...for me?
VOSO
Absolutely. For you, the masters that'll train you, and the chefs you'll have on-site. Oh, and comfortable beds.
He steps off the bike and turns to her.
VOSO
The people that believe in you aren't going anywhere, Ami. Not Kota, or the old men, or me.
She flinches her hand up to his cheek, looking sweetly at him.
MAKAMI
Even if it is only fifteen minutes of fame?
VOSO
Yeah, even then.
Now, after all the weight of the world sloughs away, they finally come together for an uninterrupted kiss. It's simple, sweet, and sweeps them both away from the world for a brief moment.
KOTA (O.S.)
Ugh, gross!
ABE (O.S.)
Ignore her!
They laugh and pull apart, Voso getting back on the bike.
MAKAMI
How about that mover I owe you?
VOSO
You sure?
MAKAMI
Yeah. I've heard good things about The Archer and The Camel-Moose.
VOSO
Sounds like a snooze fest.
MAKAMI
(yawning)
Sounds perfect for me right now.
Makami flops onto the seat, hugging his shirt tightly as her eyes close with a light, peaceful smile.
CUT TO:
INT KOUICHI'S CHAMBERS - DAY
Kouichi tosses his robes over a lavish chair inside of the small room. Besides the red, rolled-and-tufted chair, the rest of his room is basic - bare, worn floors, thin curtains, and an uneven bed.
The man himself opens his small window and flops down into the chair with a chuckle.
KOUICHI
(chuckling)
Well, he's in. We're moving things forward nicely, huh?
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
You did well, my friend.
KOUICHI
Oh, I'm sure I have you to thank for some of it, Fuu-Ki.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
Not so. My efforts were focused elsewhere, but now, our intentions shall re-align. The former Commandant's grandson.
KOUICHI
Voso? What of him?
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
He will be a great help to our cause. Make sure great care is taken to appeal to his desire to help the Avatar.
KOUICHI
Of course. Soon, I'll be Emperor, so I'll have all the power the Fire Nation can offer.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(echoing)
And together, we will save this world.
Kouichi smiles wide, toasting out the window as the view pans out. While there is victory, it's clear there is still something dark undulating under the sun.
END OF SEASON ONE
Author note: A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that's read this first season of The Last Avatar! Even if you're just passing through, that's okay! I'm just glad to have this idea out in the world. The story of Makami will continue in The Last Avatar Season 2 (published now, link below), and there here's the link. Feel free to leave a review, or just go work on your toe strength with Zura. Thanks again!
s/14273342/1/The-Last-Avatar-Season-Two